Visitors from Capital City

With an idea in mind, Zhang Hongxing began his experiments.

He first found an electric scooter battery and dismantled it. It was a pack made up of four batteries. Then, using Immortal Essence Power as a blade, he began inscribing an array across them.

An ordinary engraving knife could actually have done the job, but he was already accustomed to inscribing with Immortal Essence Power. If he suddenly switched to an ordinary knife, he might well botch the inscription.

While inscribing it, Zhang Hongxing deliberately placed the array's activation points, which normally required True Qi, on the battery's positive and negative terminals. Before long, the slightly modified Levitation Array was complete.

Then he took out a wire and connected the battery's terminals.

Buzz.

The battery pack vibrated slightly, then went completely still again.

Clearly, this attempt had failed.

After carefully studying the failed array for a while, Zhang Hongxing took out another battery pack and began inscribing again.

Zhang Hongxing spent the entire day experimenting.

He made some progress, but none of it met his expectations. Fortunately, the used battery packs could be recycled and remanufactured. Otherwise, there was no telling how much money he would have wasted that day.

Meanwhile, the Research Group's understanding of arrays advanced by the day. A few of its outstanding members could even discuss aspects of the subject with Zhang Hongxing.

Before anyone knew it, another month had passed.

Over those two months, the international situation had shown no improvement. The Xia Kingdom was still being targeted and pressured by other nations, and many of its high-tech companies had been forced into barely scraping by. Without the state backing them, virtually all of those companies would have had to declare bankruptcy and shut down.

This showed just how powerful America was once it banded together with its lackeys.

Because of this, the people of the Xia Kingdom became more united than ever.

Anyone who dared speak out in support of an enemy nation—even if they merely said one good thing about America or the other countries—would be met with a torrent of abuse.

At this point, every citizen of the Xia Kingdom was on edge.

Although they firmly believed that the Xia Kingdom would ultimately prevail, the price of that victory was bound to be steep.

No one could escape a clash between nations.

It was at this very moment that Zhang Hongxing's research finally succeeded.

After thousands of attempts and improvements, he finally inscribed the first Levitation Array that could be activated by electricity. What was more, it was extremely stable.

With his first successful example complete, he began switching to larger battery packs.

Then he even began experimenting with a car connected to a battery.

A large truck.

An enormous truck.

Then an entire thirteen-car train fully loaded with freight.

After succeeding once again, Zhang Hongxing called Wang Desheng himself.

"Mr. Zhang, I've been waiting a long time for this call. Well? Do you have some good news for me?"

"You sound like you're in a pretty good mood, Minister Wang. The internet has been full of stories lately about you Four Heavenly Kings tearing into foreigners."

"Hahaha... we only told a few truths."

"True enough. Those people really are shameless. Actually, I called to ask who I should speak to if I wanted to study nuclear reactors."

"Nuclear reactors!"

"That's right, nuclear reactors. I've made some progress with my research, and now all I'm missing is a core power source. After thinking it over, a nuclear reactor seemed like a pretty good option. So naturally, I thought of you."

"Mr. Zhang, what exactly have you developed? Nuclear reactors aren't something you can easily get access to."

"So far, I've only developed a Floating Array, something similar to magnetic levitation technology. It can levitate a train fully loaded with freight. This kind of levitation doesn't require special tracks or additional electromagnetic equipment, and it produces no radioactive contamination whatsoever."

"That technology sounds good, but you may have to offer something more."

"Sorry, that's all I have right now. But I can guarantee that this is only the beginning. Once this technology matures, even a method of changing the climate won't be out of the question."

"All right. Wait for my news."

After hanging up, Zhang Hongxing simply closed his eyes and rested.

Before long, Wang Desheng called back.

"Mr. Zhang, a research team will leave Capital City tomorrow. Sorry for the trouble, but we'll need you to arrange their reception. Elder Qian will be leading the team this time. If your technology impresses him, access to a nuclear reactor will no longer be a problem."

"Sure."

Zhang Hongxing agreed casually. As for tomorrow's reception, he would handle it as he normally would.

There was absolutely no chance he would deliberately lower himself before someone just to get something done.

Elder Qian, whose name was Qian Zhong, was a scientist nearing seventy. In the field of nuclear power, he was the undisputed best in the Xia Kingdom.

He had contributed to the Xia Kingdom's Nuclear-Powered Submarine as well.

For someone like him to personally lead a team to a small place like Shimen County naturally drew attention, and it also stirred dissatisfaction among some insiders.

But Elder Qian insisted, so those dissatisfied people could only do their best to arrange protection for him along the way.

At noon the following day, Zhang Hongxing was gathered with a group of researchers, eating lunch while discussing arrays.

The advance party of the researchers from Capital City suddenly walked in.

Seeing that the research base had made no preparations whatsoever, one of the accompanying staff members immediately began berating them:

"What is wrong with you people? Don't you know Elder Qian is coming to visit today? How can you all still be sitting here eating? Get moving and clean this place up!"

"Who are you?"

Zhang Hongxing looked up and glanced at the potbellied man, who stood with one hand on his hip, ranting like a shrew in the street.

"Who am I? Hmph... can't you tell we're all from Capital City? Who's in charge here? Get your ass out here!"

"Dumbass."

"What did you say? Say that again if you've got the guts!"

"Dumbass. Want me to say it again? You complete dumbass, who gave you permission to come shouting in my place?"

"Well, well, so you're the one in charge here. Unbelievable. Let me tell you, you're finished. I'm definitely reporting what happened today to the higher-ups. Just wait for your disciplinary action."

"Are you finished?"

"Huh?"

The potbellied man looked utterly bewildered. In all his many trips, this was the first time he had ever encountered anything like this.

"If you're finished, get out. Stop disturbing our lunch."

"Director Zhang is right. Get out of here already, fatty!"

"Director Zhang is awesome! Get lost, you fat bastard!"

"Get out!"

"Hahaha..."

Cheerful laughter rang through the research base.

One of the things these researchers hated most was having some official come over for an inspection.

For all sorts of reasons, they could only endure it in silence.

Now that such a badass boss had suddenly appeared, they were naturally delighted to back him up.

And as they joined in, their admiration for Zhang Hongxing grew even stronger.

At that moment, they all felt that transferring here had been the best decision they could have made.

Working alongside someone like Zhang Hongxing was simply a pleasure.